THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2392, 6 January 1909, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WHAT ENGLAND THINKS.

COMMENT'S FROM THE PRESS

' The English press generally takes ■a well-informed view of the general elections in Now Zealand. “The Times” takes this-position “While, therefore, we congratulate Sir Joseph Ward upon a victory sufficient for the firm conduct of the Dominion’s affairs, we are also glad to record a strengthening of the - forces led by . Mr. . Massey, which stands broadly for tho principle of the freehold in hind, legislation, for -a financial policy less dependent on loans, and lor less State regulation of private business. It is to be- obsorved, however, that while upon the somewhat yague issues which divide the parties, -public opinion, has turned a little against tho .ambitious legislation of the l-ast few years,, it is growing stronger, by marked degrees upon a question of State control, which does not divide political conviction on tho regular party -lines. * The poll upon tho- liquor question, which -is held coincidontly with the Parliamentary elections,'shows an enormous increase in favor of the prohibitionist cause. V • It is difficult to estimate how far the growth of opinion -against the licensed sale of drink has been aided by the women’s vote; but it is at least remarkable that it coincides with an incrcaso in tho percentage of women registered -as electors. There may be no casual connection between the -astonishing advance of the prohibitionist movement and the increasing determination of women to use their vote ; but, if there is not, tho coincidence is remarkable.”

The “British Australasian” says: “The great work of raising New Zealand from the Slough of Despond into which she had sunk was begun under the Premiership of Mr. John Ballauce, continued on bis death under Mr. Seddon, and then under Sir Joseph Ward. Seldom has any State seen such a steady advance from utter depression to widespread prosperity. The long erft of Liberal rule is undoubtedly due to the fact that the party, after the Conservative overthrow, embarked on a far-sighted policy.. having for its object the opening of the lands of the colony to settlement. The land value taxation and closer settlement measures were carried for this purpose, and have largely achieved their object, with the result that primary production lias increased by leaps and bounds as the number of holdings has doubled. This progressive policy has made for the stability of the Liberal party, since it led to an understanding with labor, which is as yet unbroken, Now Zealand being the only Australasian State in which there‘is no Independent Labor Party, a ‘ fact seemingly overlooked 1 by British Socialists when applauding New Zealand legislation.” The “Globe” says:—“lt is quite evident that the popularity of the Seddon Ministry,, and their policy, was, the most powerful asset of the present-Cabinet on its assumption of office; and it has carried them far. But the wave is apparently diminishing little by little, and it seems not improbable that at the next, election tho present Opposition in New Zealand may again .win the day., after almost- as many years in the wilderness as the Radicals had here. But if the Opposition return to power in New Zealand, it will be loss because they present a not very ambitious programme to the electorate than because the Government have exhausted their mandate. A series of reforms and daring experiments stretching over many years has, however, still not satisfied the desire of the New Zealand public for political change; and though in some instances they have no doubt found that their theories landed them in awkward 1 difficulties, on the whole they have made a brilliant success of their ideals. The diminished rpajority of the present Ward Government, while it may possibly cause them to be less vigorous, might conceivably have the efEect of forcing them to a still more adventurous policy.”